For the NC House Bill:
TO: The Honorable NC House District
RE: Amateur Radio exemption in HB 831, the Brian Garlock Act
Dear Senator
On behalf of North Carolina’s nearly 22,000 Federally licensed Amateur Radio operators, I am writing to ask your consideration for inserting in House Bill 831 (Senate Bill 364), the Brian Garlock Act, an exemption for Amateur Radio operators.
Amateur Radio operators, or "Hams" as they have been nicknamed for the past century, have a long and rich history of public service in times of disaster.
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations or 47CFR, Part 97.1(a) provides that a primary purpose of Amateur Radio Service is "Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications."
Amateur radio operators are a strategic partner with North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), local and county Emergency Management, National Weather Service and non-Government organizations like the American Red Cross and the North Carolina Baptist Men’s Relief. Hams have fulfilled this purpose repeatedly. A recent example are amateur radio operators recently being deployed during Hurricane Matthew to aid affected North Carolinian's.
Amateur Radio is a volunteer, tax-free resource and service, saving the state millions of dollars if their services had to be replicated commercially. Much of what amateur radio operators accomplish in public service must be done while mobile. The safety record of Amateur Radio use while mobile is pristine. Please insert an Amateur Radio
exemption in House Bill 831 so Amateur Radio operators can continue to be a tax-free service to the State of North Carolina and its citizens.
I am grateful for your consideration.
Sincerely,